The Oscar Piastri soap opera continues to gain momentum.
On August 2, Alpine announced young Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri as one of its two drivers for 2023. more at Alpine next year, probably to join McLaren.
I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year.
This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.
— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) August 2, 2022
An announcement which did not fail to upset the French team, which risks bringing the case to justice.
"We are more than 90% certain to go to the High Court, that's what we will do," Alpine director Otmar Szafnauer told Reuters.
Two approved contracts?
"If the CRB (FIA Contract Recognition Board) says
your license is only valid at Alpine
, and they (Piastri) say
that's great, but I'll never drive for them, I'll sit still for a year,
then we have to go to the High Court for compensation,” added Otmar Szafnauer.
But according to Auto Hebdo magazine, Oscar Piastri's two contracts have been validated by the CRB.
The first, which binds him with Alpine for the 2022 season, but also a second, which sends him to McLaren in 2023. An unimaginable situation which should therefore be settled in court, if no agreement is reached between the two teams.
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Alpine would then seek compensation, which would offset the numerous expenses of the French team for Oscar Piastri, with a view to his integration into Formula 1. It was expected that the 21-year-old driver had accumulated 5,000 km of tests in single-seaters from Alpine, by the end of the season.
“We didn't sit down with the accountants to calculate everything we spent.
We will have to do this if we go to the High Court,”
said the Alpine director.
If he joins McLaren, Australian Oscar Piastri could replace his compatriot Daniel Ricciardo.